Race-starting machine



Aug. 14, 1928.

R. G. GRAY RACE STARTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 28, 1925 Patented Aug. 14, 19 28 UNITED STAT 1,680,875 ESPATENT OFFICE.

REUBEN GABRIEL GRAY, OF CANTERBURY, NEAR SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA.

B ACK-STARTING MACHINE.

Application filed August 28,1925, Serial No. 53,134, and in Australia September 5,-1924.

Race starting machines hitherto con structed have provided for starting all contestants at the one point and a practical machine has not been provided by which contestants may be started at different points as is necessary when some are handicapped by allowing others to start ahead or in front oi them.

N ow this invention has been specially devised in order to provide an improved race starting machine whereby all contestants may be started at the same time but at distanced points or handicapping distances apart as is required in pony trotting and pedestrian races the starting of which has hitherto not been satisfactorily achieved owing to the starter being unable to efiicicntly observe each contestant to ensure that none was ahead of the point at which it or he should start when the starting signal was given.

The improved race-starting machine according to this invention comprises a plurality of starting barriers each positioned across the course at required position and being adapted to rise clear of the contestants when released by the starter and each being connected to common control means operable by the starter so that all barriers may be drawn down to obstructing position and 7 held there until released and will then move clear of contestants simultaneously to allow each to start at the same time.

In order that the invention and a practical application thereof will be readily understood the same will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective of the machine in which the barriers are arranged to rise vertically,

Figure 2 is an elevation of one of the barriers, and its connection to the common control,

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective of suitable pulleys and arrangement of the barrier connection and common control, and

Figure 4 is arperspective of the machine in which the barriers are arranged to rise forwardly and vertically.

In the preferred construction and arrangement illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 a pair of posts 5 and 6 of requisite height for each barrier is, erected one each at opposite sides of the course at the required position and the barrier 7 which may be a single tape are led through or cord has one end connected to the free end of an elevating arm 8 which is hinged at the under side of the other end to one post- 6 has that end bevelled to limit its elevation and is adapted to be maintained normally post by elastic means 9 connected to said free end and said post, and the other end of the barrier 7 is connected to the opposite post 5. connected to the barrier 7 a branch cord 10 which is led through a pulley 11 secured to cad post and is connected to a main operable control cord 12 which is led through a pulley or other suitable guide and friction reducing device 13 or pairs of same requisitely positioned upon each of the posts 5 and upon any other requisite posts to the point at which thestarter is to be located at wh'ch the end of said cord12 preferably has a ring is which may be grasped by the starter or may be placed over the end of a withdravable bolt after the cord has been drawn taut to set all the barriers so that upon retirement of the bolt, say by operation of a suitable lever, the cord 12 will be released and allow all the barriers to be simultaneously carried by their elevating arms 8 clear of the contestants.

When the barriers are to be controlled from a lateral position, say midway of the distance between the first and last of the di tanced barriers, an extension 15 is connected to the operable cord 12 and the branches 1O pulleys on the posts at either side of said position so raised laterally outwardly of said Inwardly from said end there 1s opposite sides of 7.

that when said extension 15 is pulled latorally the pull upon the branches will be towards the junction of the extension.

If it be desired to control the barrier from one end or from a lateral position at the momentary choice of the starter as may be necessary or convenient according to the contestants, a duplicate branch 16 is connected from the barriers 7 which are at one side of the lateralposition and each led through a' separate pulley 17 and connected to the control cord 12 so that the control cord 12 may be operated either from one end or from the lateral position.

By providing each barrier with duplicate branches connected to the common control cord and extending the latter at each end (say as shown dotted at 18 in Figure 1) the machine maybe controlled from either end or from a lateral position.

In another construction (Figure 4) each I,

barrier 7 is connected to and carried by the free end of a similarly hinged aerating and maintained arm 19 upon the 'orward face of each post 5 and 6 and connected at or near each said end is a branch cord 10 led through a pulley 11 on each post 5 and 6 and connccted to one of dualvcontrol cords 12 and 12 each lead through pulleys 18 or pairs of same on each said post upon opposite sides of the course, one of said cords say 12 being led through pulleys 20 on the end pairs of posts overhead across the course and connected at the other side to the other control cord 12 so that when the connected ends are pulled the whole of the arms will be drawn down against theirposts'to place the barriers in obstructing or starting position and Whensaid ends are released the arms will be raised by their elastic means and forwardly elevate the barriers.

In operation, the contestants take their places on the course rearwardly of the respective barriers as allotted and directed, and the barriers are set across the course by tautening the control cord until the barriers are drawn down to obstructing position, then when all contestants are in place and the race is to be started the control cord is released thus allowing each barrier to simul taneously ascend clear of the contestants and barrier inwardly of the last named post and led through a pulley thereon and connected outwardly of the posts to a common control cord led through pulleys on each post at that side of the course.

.2. Improved race starting machine comprising the parts or integers set forth in the preceding first claim and having a duplicate branch cord connected to each of the barriers and led through a second pulley on the post opposite the arm and connected inwardly of the last named post to the control cord to operate said barriers when said control cord is pulled in either direction.

3. An improved race starting machine comprising a plurality of pairs of" posts arranged in spaced relation at the start of the course, the posts of each pair being positioned on opposite sides of the course at each starting position, a barrier carrying arm hingedly supported on each of said posts, and manually controlled mechanical means for simultaneously controlling all of the barrier carrying arms thereby to more each barrier into and out of obstructing relation to the race course.

1. A race starting apparatus comprising pairs of posts, the posts of each fpair being positioned on opposite sides 0 the race course and each pair being spaced apart longitudinally of the course, an arm hinged to one post of each pair, means for normally maintaining said arm elevated, a flexible barrier connected at one end with said arm and adapted to be disposed across the track at each pair of posts, a branch cord connected to each barrier, and a common control cord connecting'with each branch cord for simultaneously contrdlling all of said barriers.

Dated this twenty-ninth day of July, one thousand nine hundred andtwenty-five.

REUBEN GABRIEL GRAY. 

